1993 Dodge Colt Problems

What owners report

Complaints about this model year are dominated by its automatic motorized front shoulder belts: owners describe the belt carriage failing to move along its guide rail, sticking, or the cable coming out of its chamber, sometimes shortly after recall work was performed. Most sampled complaints carry no mileage, and the handful that do range from roughly 50,000 to 150,000 miles, so failures appear both early and late in the vehicle's life. Other reports are scattered across seats, door hardware, transmission and the steering pulley.

1. 1
   Seat belts

   Automatic shoulder belt stuck or inoperative

   • 55 complaints (51%)
   • median 108,000 mi at 10.5 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1995–2012

   Owners describe the motorized front shoulder belt failing to travel along its track when the door closes or the ignition is turned on, leaving the belt in the forward or retracted position so it will not restrain the occupant. Some report the belt popping loose over bumps, the buckle releasing, or the drive motor making noise and then stopping; several say the belt had to be released manually to get out. Complaints frequently note that the problem returned after recall repairs, and that the dealer would only address the listed guide-rail parts, not the motor or cable, unless the owner paid. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 60,000 to about 150,000 miles, and often recurring months or years after earlier repairs.

   Recall 97V073002Recall 97V063002

   What to check: With the engine running, open and close each front door and confirm both shoulder belts travel the full length of their tracks and lock; also check that the belt releases normally. Ask whether recall 97V073002 was performed and whether the motor and cable were replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There was a recall on the seat belts for my 1993 Dodge COLT in 1997. I had them fixed according to the recall, but they failed again a couple of years ago. Same problem. There is an automatic seat belt slide for the shoulder harness on both front seats and it does not work. This is incredibly dangerous and unacceptable. I am afraid to use my car, afraid we'll die in a crash. Please get the manufacturer to recall this again or at least allow me another fix so that we can be safe. Tia.”

   NHTSA complaint #10157541, filed 2006-05, 108,000 miles

   “My COLT first had troubles with the seatbelt in 1996. Tha automatic belts would get stuck or not move either forward or back. It was taken care of by the dealer at no charge. When I got the recall in jan1998 it again went in after just starting trouble again. Now in 2000 thedriver side has done it again. It has been fixed again for the third time.”

   NHTSA complaint #726051, filed 2000-07
2. 2
   Seat belts

   Guide rail cable out of chamber

   • 36 complaints (34%)
   • median 108,597 mi at 10.8 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1995–2012

   Owners report the cable inside the driver's or passenger-side guide rail dropping out of its channel, leaving the shoulder belt anchorage stuck and the belt unusable; some describe grease from the rail rubbing off onto clothing. Many complaints tie this to recall 97V073002 and state the repair either was not completed, failed again, or was refused because their vehicle was not included by VIN or because parts were unavailable or on back order. Mostly reported on vehicles of this age regardless of mileage; several complaints followed within a few years of a prior recall repair.

   Recall 97V073002

   What to check: Inspect both front guide rails for a cable sitting outside its channel or visible grease trails, and confirm recall 97V073002 coverage for the specific vehicle by VIN with a dealer.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Cable inside of the guide rail on the driver's side has come out not allowing the seatbelt to work properly. I was never sent a recall and I find a recall listed in here for my specific problem. I contacted both my dealer and chrysler to get this repaired free of charge which I was not. I was told there was nothing that they could do about it.”

   NHTSA complaint #704372, filed 1999-03

   “Consumer was complaining about a retractable seat belt problem. The cable cord came loose. The dealership told the consumer that the cable cord was not part of the recall and the consumer would have to pay for any seat belt repairs not mentioned in the recall. The consumer stated the seat belt was replaced back in 1997.”

   NHTSA complaint #10048291, filed 2003-12, 150,000 miles
3. 3
   Seat belts

   Shoulder belt webbing frayed or cut

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the shoulder belt webbing shredding or tearing where it passes through the guide loop or floor guide, with the driver's side often worse, and one owner reporting a worn lap belt unraveling. Owners say the damaged section will not pass freely through the guide and worries them about restraint in a crash. Dealers are described as either unaware of the problem or unable to supply replacement parts, which some owners say are no longer made. Reported on older vehicles in the sample; mileage is generally not stated.

   What to check: Run the belt slowly through its guide and look for fraying, cuts, or a shredded edge near the loop; check lap belt webbing too.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driver's side shoulder belt gets stuck when it comes through the guide in the floor, causing it to shred. The manufacturer has yet to be contacted. Consumer states more than half of the belt is damaged and will not freely pass through the guide.”

   NHTSA complaint #832888, filed 1998-12

   “Guide clip on right side of seat for belt is made in such a way that it cuts into belt itself, causing belt to shred severly. Very hazardous and will not restrain person in vehicle if ever an acccident should occur.”

   NHTSA complaint #745643, filed 2001-05

Buying note. The automatic front shoulder belts are the main thing to evaluate on this model year: test both sides through full cycles and verify what recall 97V073002 actually covered on that specific vehicle. Parts for these belt systems can be difficult to source, so confirm availability before assuming a repair is simple.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.